A Christian Reflection on Memorial Day: Grieving with Hope

 “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.” 

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Dear Friends,

Memorial Day is a day our nation sets aside to mourn and honor those who have died in service to our country. Over the years citizens have developed traditions in keeping with this holiday. Many visit the graves of their loved ones, whether they died in the service or not, to remember their lives and place flowers on their tombs. While Memorial Day can be a day of thanksgiving and gratefulness, it can also be a day of sadness as we grieve those we’ve loved and lost. 

The Universal Experience of Grief

Grief is a universal experience. If one thing is certain in this life; it is death. At some point we will leave this world or grieve the loss of someone we love. God knows this, and Jesus Himself experienced this deep loss while he walked on earth. But the Bible encourages us in our place of deepest sadness.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers to educate them on death. He validated their grief, but reminded them that they did not have to grieve as those who have no hope. In the midst of sorrow, we have the sure hope that death isn’t final. This is because Jesus Christ died and rose again ensuring that those who believe in Him will also come out of the grave. 

Believer’s Grieve With Hope

At the moment of a believer’s death, they are fully alive with the Lord. But one day, when He returns to earth He will call His own from the grave and the bodies of the dead in Christ will rise to meet Him in the air. Those who are still alive at His coming will also be caught up in the air to be reunited with loved ones, but more importantly to be with the Lord forever.

This belief and sure hope encourages us even while we weep at the loss of the moment. 

It is a natural thing for us to remember those who have gone before us, and Memorial Day is a yearly opportunity to do this. Yet, as Christians, there is something more important that we should remember and celebrate often. This is what is often called the Lord’s Supper.

A Different Kind of Memorial Day

The Lord’s supper, or communion, was initiated by Jesus before He went to the cross. He told His disciples to take the bread to remember His broken body, and drink the wine as a remembrance of His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus told His followers that as often as they participated in this ordinance, they would remember Him and not forget what He had done to defeat death and provide eternal life. 

So, while the yearly national holiday we call Memorial Day is a once a year event pointing us to remember those who died in military service along with our loved ones who have passed away, we don’t have to grieve in the same way the world does. As believers, we can celebrate another type of Memorial Day all year long. Remembering what our Savior, Jesus Christ, did for us by dying on the cross and rising again provides for a new type of grieving – one with great expectation and hope. 

We Will See Our Loved Ones Again

We rejoice in the midst of sorrow because we know this: We will see our loved ones again. And that day could be sooner than we think.

Love,

Mama

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